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cnbc.com
10-year Treasury yield is little changed as investors look ahead to more delayed data
The 10-year Treasury yield was little changed on Tuesday as investors looked ahead to more delayed data releases during the holiday-shortened trading week.
bbc.com
Shein under EU investigation over childlike sex dolls
Europe is examining whether the fast fashion giant breached the Digital Services Act.
cnbc.com
Anthropic releases Claude Sonnet 4.6, continuing breakneck pace of AI model releases
Claude Sonnet 4.6 is more consistent with coding and is better at following coding instructions, Anthropic said.
cnbc.com
Netflix grants Warner Bros. Discovery 7-day waiver to reopen deal talks with Paramount Skydance
Warner Bros. Discovery on Tuesday said it will engage in deal talks with Paramount Skydance under a 7-day waiver from Netflix.
cnbc.com
Amazon has lost $450 billion in value during this historic losing streak. Here's what's dragging it down
Amazon expects to spend $200 billion this year on AI initiatives, the company said when it reported earnings.
cnbc.com
Sterling falls as UK unemployment hits highest rate in five years
European stocks closed broadly higher on Tuesday as investors keep an eye on earnings.
theguardian.com
Goldman Sachs to drop race, gender and LGBTQ+ criteria from board evaluations
The move follows pressure from an activist shareholder group seeking end to DEI requirementsGoldman Sachs is removing race, gender and other diversity-related considerations when evaluating prospective candidates for its executive board after pressure from an activist shareholder group to remove the criteria.The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), a small Goldman shareholder, quietly submitted a request to the company last September asking the bank to eliminate its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) board criteria. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Epstein files fallout: The high-profile people burned by past dealings with a predator
Jeffrey Epstein killed himself in a New York City federal jail in 2019. But more than six years later, people are still losing their jobs because of him.
cnbc.com
Ford to follow Tesla Cybertruck with electrical tech in new EV pickup
Ford's next generation of all-electric vehicles will feature a budding technology commercialized by Tesla in the U.S. on its Cybertruck.
cnbc.com
Lakers governor Jeanie Buss talks year of transition, says father would have supported sale to Mark Walter
Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss said new majority owner Mark Walter's access to capital will help the team best compete with the NBA's top franchises.
cnbc.com
Silver miners fall trading as the metal drops 2%
Silver mining companies including Hecla Mining, Endeavor Silver, and First Majestic Silver were down before the market opened.
cnbc.com
Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader and former presidential candidate, dies at 84
The Rev. Jesse Jackson was a civil rights icon, Baptist minister and two-time Democratic presidential candidate.
bbc.com
Dual nationals face scramble for UK passports as new rules come into force
Entry requirements to the UK for dual nationals are being overhauled as part of sweeping changes to the immigration system.
bbc.com
'The search is soul-destroying': Young jobseekers on the struggle to find work
People aged between 16 and 24 are bearing the brunt of a weak employment market, figures show.
bbc.com
UK unemployment hits highest rate for nearly five years
It marks the highest rate since the Covid pandemic, official figures show.
bbc.com
Ex-Carillion boss fined for 'reckless' actions
Ex-chief executive Richard Howson acted "recklessly" and misled others, a watchdog says.
cnbc.com
Iran partially closes Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil choke point, as Tehran holds talks with U.S.
Iranian state media reported the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday for military drills in the waterway.
theguardian.com
Warner Bros gives Paramount seven days to make ‘best and final’ offer
Waiver from Netflix allows film company to engage with rival bidder if it could lead to a ‘reasonably superior offer’Business live – latest updatesWarner Bros Discovery (WBD) has reopened talks with Paramount Skydance, giving the company seven days to table its best and final offer and top an existing agreement with Netflix.WBD has so far stuck to its binding agreement with Netflix and rejected a series of sweetened offers from Paramount, resulting in the company pursuing a hostile $108.4bn (£76.8bn) takeover directly with shareholders Continue reading...
cnbc.com
ByteDance says it will add safeguards to Seedance 2.0 following Hollywood backlash
ByteDance has said it will work to strengthen safeguards on a new AI video-making tool, following copyright concerns and legal threats from Hollywood.
cnbc.com
Alibaba unveils Qwen3.5 as China’s chatbot race shifts to AI agents
Alibaba Group has released its newest AI model series, featuring new agentic capabilities, as competition in China's AI space ramps up.
bbc.com
Netflix and Paramount are battling for Warner Bros. Who is likely to win?
What to know about the two firms' blockbuster battle to control Warner Bros Discovery.
cnbc.com
Cloud startup Render raises funding at $1.5 billion valuation as AI-built apps boom
Render is one of the beneficiaries of growing competition in the cloud computing world spurred by the booming demand for artificial intelligence.
cnbc.com
French prosecutors are investigating companies like Nestle and Danone over contaminated baby formula. Here's the latest
A crisis over contaminated baby formula reached a flashpoint as Paris' public prosecutor said it opened investigations into five companies making it.
cnbc.com
Altman and Pichai among tech CEOs heading to India for major AI summit in a key market
India has a market of young, tech-forward consumers and a huge pool of talent which could be key to continued development of AI.
theguardian.com
Surging prediction markets face legal backlash in US: ‘Lines have been blurred’
At least 20 federal suits filed against companies like Kalshi and Polymarket as lawmakers call it ‘loophole’ for gamblingState lawmakers and gaming regulators across the US are escalating their fight against prediction markets, arguing that the fast-growing platforms are “basically gambling but with another name”.At least 20 federal lawsuits have been filed nationwide, disputing whether companies such as Kalshi and Polymarket should be treated as federally regulated financial exchanges, as they maintain, or as gambling operations that should be regulated like state-licensed sportsbooks. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It’s betrayal’: Shetland’s scallop fishers brace for arrival of UK’s largest salmon farm
Huge project by Norwegian-owned Scottish Sea Farms gets go-ahead amid concerns over the environmental cost of fish farming and threat to traditional way of lifeAt Collafirth, north Shetland, Sydney Johnson is unloading two-dozen bags of scallops by throwing them over his head like medicine balls to the pier above. Johnson, who has just finished a 10-hour shift on his boat, the Golden Shore, is concerned that plans for a new salmon farm will put fishers like him and his two sons out of business.“They say it’s just one farm,” says Johnson. “But it’s one farm more. There’s only so much water and we’re at saturation point.” Continue reading...
bbc.com
Could Bill Gates and political tussles overshadow AI safety debate in Delhi?
As global tech leaders meet Delhi, India hopes to level the playing field for countries outside the US and China.
cnbc.com
India discussing age-based restrictions with social media firms, top minister says
The comments come after Australia in December became the first to ban users under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms.
theguardian.com
Boohoo and Debenhams owner raises £35m, risking Mike Ashley clash
Company, which also owns Oasis, Warehouse and Karen Millen, to use cash to cut debts and fund turnaroundBusiness live – latest updatesThe owner of Boohoo and Debenhams is raising £35m from shareholders in a move that could open a fresh conflict with Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley.The company, which also owns Oasis, Warehouse, Pretty Little Thing and Karen Millen, said on Tuesday that the new cash would help reduce debts and fund its turnaround plans. These involve slashing costs, selling off a distribution centre and operating Debenhams as an online marketplace for other brands. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK shelves £110m frictionless post-Brexit trade border project
Programme launched by last Tory government was worked on by Deloitte and IBM but was paused in 2024Business live – latest updatesThe UK government has shelved a project to simplify trade border processes post-Brexit after spending £110m on a contract with Deloitte and IBM for it, according to reports.The last Conservative government promised in 2020 to create the “world’s most effective border” by 2025 as part of its plan for a new trade system after Britain left the EU. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Hyatt chair Thomas Pritzker steps down over Epstein links
Billionaire says he exercised ‘terrible judgment’ in maintaining contact with sex offender and Ghislaine MaxwellThe billionaire Thomas Pritzker has stepped down as executive chair of the hotel chain Hyatt, after revelations over his ties with the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Pritzker said he had exercised “terrible judgment” in maintaining contact with the sex offender and Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for her role in recruiting and grooming underage girls. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Budget sees largest ever personal allowance rise
Treasury Minister Chris Thomas's budget sees the tax-free allowance rise by £2,250 to £17,000.
theguardian.com
EU to investigate Shein over sale of childlike sex dolls and weapons
Bloc also examines ‘addictive design’ of shopping site, including rewards, and its recommender systemsBusiness live – latest updatesThe EU is to open a formal investigation into the Chinese retailer Shein over multiple suspected breaches of European laws including the sale of childlike sex dolls and weapons.The European Commission said on Tuesday it had launched the inquiry after demanding information from the fast-growing company last year. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK unemployment rate hits five-year high of 5.2% as wage growth cools
ONS figures raise the prospect of a further interest rate cut by Bank of England in the springGloom for UK workers as incomes flatline and jobs market faltersBusiness live – latest updatesUnemployment in the UK has risen to 5.2%, the highest level in nearly five years, while wage growth continues to slow, raising the prospect of another cut to interest rates in the spring.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of unemployment was 5.2% in the three months to the end of December, the highest rate since the quarter to January 2021. This was in line with what economists had been expecting and was up from 5.1% in the three months to November. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Gloom for UK workers as incomes flatline and jobs market falters
Falls in inflation and interest rates could leave Britain better off this year, but at the cost of high unemploymentUK unemployment rate hits five-year highPrivate sector pay increased on average by just 3.4% in December, according to the latest official labour market data released on Tuesday, the same as the rise in inflation at the end of last year.No wonder the vast majority of workers are feeling the winter blues. Their incomes, adjusted for rising shop prices, have flatlined, leaving them no better off than they were a year earlier. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
India's Adani to invest $100 billion in AI data centers over the next decade
The blockbuster investment comes as India pushes to gain a stronger foothold in the global artificial intelligence race.
bbc.com
Royal Mail given two weeks to respond to claims it is prioritising parcels
MPs have raised "significant concerns" about reports of "failures in service" at the company.
bbc.com
Calculator: How will freeze on tax thresholds hit your take-home pay?
Wages have been rising faster than prices but you could pay more tax because of frozen thresholds.
theguardian.com
Openreach said yes to full fibre broadband, then branded it ‘uneconomical’
Its ‘fibre checker’ tool confirmed I could have a connection, but a month later it changed its mindMy internet provider informed me by email that full fibre broadband had become available for my property, confirmed by Openreach’s “fibre checker” tool. After a month, Openreach declared the connection uneconomical due to blockages in the conduits below the road. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Restaurants raising prices 'to keep doors open'
The Pavilion took to social media to reveal cost pressures
theguardian.com
Claims that AI can help fix climate dismissed as greenwashing
Industry using ‘diversionary’ tactics, says analyst, as energy-hungry complex functions such as video generation and deep research proliferateTech companies are conflating traditional artificial intelligence with generative AI when claiming the energy-hungry technology could help avert climate breakdown, according to a report.Most claims that AI can help avert climate breakdown refer to machine learning and not the energy-hungry chatbots and image generation tools driving the sector’s explosive growth of gas-guzzling datacentres, the analysis of 154 statements found. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Europeans are dangerously reliant on US tech. Now is a good time to build our own | Johnny Ryan
By trusting the US, we handed Trump a kill switch. Yet Europe’s digital sovereignty is an achievable goalThe French judge Nicolas Guillou knows exactly how deep Europe’s dependence on US tech is. Guillou and his colleagues at the international criminal court are under US sanctions. They can no longer use e-commerce, book hotels online or hire a car. Their home smart devices ignore them. Credit cards from European banks no longer function, because Europe has still not developed its own EU-wide payments system, so most electronic purchases go through Visa and Mastercard. Converting euros to foreign currencies is extraordinarily difficult because everything passes through dollars. Living in Europe is no protection against Donald Trump bricking your digital life.This dependence is not limited to mod-cons. Last year, the chairman of the Danish parliament’s defence committee said that he regretted his part in Denmark’s decision to buy US-made F-35 fighter jets: “I can easily imagine a situation where the USA will demand Greenland from Denmark and will threaten to deactivate our weapons and let Russia attack us when we refuse. Buying American weapons is a security risk that we can not run.” He is not alone. Spain has abandoned plans to buy F-35s.Johnny Ryan is director of Enforce, a unit of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Economic fighters’: the volunteers helping direct sanctions against Russia
Civil society groups and individuals from around world are working to aid Ukraine by damaging Moscow’s war machineIn August 2022, Olena Yurchenko stumbled across a heated discussion on a Russian-language online forum – and made a discovery that would ultimately affect US and European sanctions policy on the Ukraine war.The war had begun six months earlier. Yurchenko, 22, had been forced to leave Ukraine for Latvia after Russian strikes on her home town in the north. She had joined a nascent effort to pressure western companies to move their operations out of Russia. But the “name and blame” tactic only went so far, she said. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Hyatt Hotels chairman steps down over Jeffrey Epstein ties
Billionaire Thomas Pritzker said he had exercised "terrible judgement" in keeping contact with Epstein.
bbc.com
Reddit's human content wins amid the AI flood
Reddit says its human contributors are valued amid an internet awash with AI-generated content.
bbc.com
Six of Sarah Ferguson's companies winding down
The move follows further revelations over her friendship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
theguardian.com
Car dealership tycoon ousted from his Kent company in ‘coup’, high court hears
Peter Waddell is alleged to have made racist and sexist remarks that led to removal as CEO of Big Motoring WorldA multimillionaire used-car salesman was ousted from his £300m company as part of an orchestrated “coup” involving business rivals and private equity investors, the high court has heard.Peter Waddell, 59, claims he was forced out as the chief executive of the Kent-based dealership Big Motoring World by “conspirators” who designed a “plan” to ensure that an investigation into allegations of gross misconduct “reached the conclusion that one or more [sackable events] had occurred”. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Apple takes on YouTube and Spotify with new video podcasting push
Apple will bring a new integrated video podcast experience to Apple Podcasts this spring.
theguardian.com
UK bank bosses plan to set up Visa and Mastercard alternative amid Trump fears
Exclusive: First meeting to be held over domestic payments system aimed at reducing reliance on US networksUK bank bosses will hold their first meeting to establish a national alternative to Visa and Mastercard, amid growing fears over Donald Trump’s ability to turn off US-owned payment systems.The meeting, chaired by Barclays’ UK chief executive, Vim Maru, will take place this Thursday and bring together a group of City funders that will front the costs of a new payments company to keep the UK economy running if problems were to occur. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Starmer’s options in funding a further defence spending rise would be limited
Competing domestic priorities, Treasury borrowing limits and already nervous lenders are among the many obstaclesKeir Starmer has few options if he wants to increase annual defence spending by up to £14bn before the end of this parliament.In last summer’s spending review, the government set out plans to increase defence spending from 2.3% of national income, or gross domestic product (GDP), in 2024-25 – about £66bn, to 2.6% in 2028-29. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
European markets close higher as investors digest key points from Munich Security Conference
Stock markets in Europe began the week in positive territory after edging lower on Friday.
cnbc.com
AI chatbot firms face stricter regulation in online safety laws protecting children in the UK
"The action we took on Grok sent a clear message that no platform gets a free pass," U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday.
bbc.com
'Significant' personal tax allowance rise on cards
The treasury minister prepares to deliver a budget with a "significant rise" in personal allowances.
theguardian.com
KPMG partner fined for using artificial intelligence to cheat in AI training test
Firm says person fined A$10,000 is one of over two dozen staff in Australia caught using AI in exams since JulyBusiness live – latest updatesA partner at the consultancy KPMG has been fined for using artificial intelligence to cheat during an internal training course on AI.The unnamed partner was fined A$10,000 (£5,200) for using the technology to cheat, one of a number of staff reportedly using the tactic. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Former Carillion chief fined by FCA for role in misleading investors
Watchdog reduces Richard Howson’s fine to £237,700 after he withdraws challenge to punishmentThe former boss of the construction company Carillion has been fined by the UK’s financial watchdog for his role in misleading investors before its collapse eight years ago.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) fined Richard Howson £237,700 after Carillion’s ex-chief executive withdrew his challenge to the regulator’s punishment. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Here’s how much athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics get for winning medals
For athletes at the ongoing 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, a podium finish can come with six-figure checks.
bbc.com
Royal Mail letters sit undelivered 'for weeks' as parcels prioritised, staff say
Staff and customers tell the BBC prioritising parcels can mean missed NHS appointments and late payment fines.
theguardian.com
Volkswagen aims to cut costs by 20% by 2028 in restructuring plan, report says
Plant closures possible as part of German carmaker’s efforts to create resilience in face of competition from ChinaBusiness live – latest updatesVolkswagen plans to cut costs by 20% by 2028, with plant closures not ruled out, as part of an effort to reshape the company in the face of increasing competition from China, according to reports.The German automotive company’s chief executive, Oliver Blume, and its finance chief, Arno Antlitz, are said to have presented a plan for “massive” savings at a meeting of the company’s top executives last month. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The US is merely the latest to join the global rush to hoard critical minerals
JD Vance is seeking to create a ‘trading bloc’ as shortages and climate crises mean a kaleidoscope of rare earths are increasingly jealously guardedThe announcement by the US vice-president, JD Vance, that the country is seeking to create a new critical minerals “trading bloc” is a final, exotic, nail in the coffin of the old global trading system. The era of mass abundance, as supplied by unfettered free trade and global markets – “neoliberalism” – is over. We live in a new world of strategic competition between states over scarce but essential resources, with shocks to supplies from human activity and natural disasters an ever-present risk.This means recalibrating how we think about our economy: the new economic fundamentals today are resource constraints and climate and nature crises, and these, rather than human activity, will increasingly shape the world we inhabit. Flows of finance and stocks of wealth will matter less than stocks and flows of real material resources. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
China's tech shock threatens the U.S. AI monopoly and is 'just getting started'
"You could see easily a world where maybe most of the world's population is running on a Chinese tech stack in five to 10 years time," one analyst told CNBC.
theguardian.com
Lloyds investigating after using staff’s bank account data in pay talks
CEO Charlie Nunn tells employees that issue ‘created some concern’ but insisted ‘we definitely have listened to it’Business live – latest updatesThe boss of Lloyds Banking Group has told staff that it is investigating a controversial decision to use employee bank account data during pay talks with unions last year.In a town hall meeting open to the bank’s 64,000 staff at the start of February, Charlie Nunn conceded that the move “obviously has created some concern” but tried to assure workers that “we definitely have listened to it”. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Spud truck handing out free meals to families
The truck is supporting those who can not afford meals outside of school term-time.
bbc.com
Lloyds boss accepts concern over use of staff data in pay talks
The bank was criticised for comparing employees' spending habits to the wider public as part of wage negotiations.
bbc.com
Brewdog staff 'upset and concerned' by sale plans
Unite said workers had been left in the dark over their futures after the craft beer firm announced plans to explore new investment.
bbc.com
ByteDance to curb AI video app after Disney legal threat
Videos featuring Spider-Man and other characters which are Disney's intellectual property have gone viral since Seedance's update.
bbc.com
Trump eyes Venezuela visit – but obstacles to his oil plan remain
The US president wants American energy firms to start extracting the crude but they are reluctant.
cnbc.com
Crypto is playing a growing role in human trafficking networks, report shows
A report from a blockchain analytics company has found that cryptocurrency is playing a growing role in suspected human trafficking activity.
cnbc.com
Cuba suspends annual cigar festival as U.S. oil blockade deepens energy crisis
The postponement comes as the island nation's communist-run government endures its biggest test since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
cnbc.com
Some European policymakers welcome U.S. Secretary of State Rubio's warm words, others remain cautious
Rubio's comments at the Munich Security Conference struck a softer tone than Vice President JD Vance's at last year's event.
theguardian.com
Why did I get a £100 parking fine when charging my electric car?
The charger firm claimed the site operated 24 hours a day, but the parking operator had different ideasI charged my electric car at the 24-hour Mer EV charging station in my local B&Q car park.I then received a £100 parking charge notice (PCN) from the car park operator, Ocean Parking. It said no parking is allowed on the site between 9pm and 6am. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger joining OpenAI, Altman says
OpenClaw, the open source AI agent that's surged in popularity in recent weeks, will live within OpenAI, according to a post on X from Sam Altman.
theguardian.com
What technology takes from us – and how to take it back – podcast
Decisions outsourced, chatbots for friends, the natural world an afterthought: Silicon Valley is giving us life void of connection. There is a way out – but it’s going to take collective effortBy Rebecca Solnit. Read by Laurel Lefkow Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Much ado about nothing? TikTok's U.S. usership steadies after turbulent start
TikTok's U.S. joint venture seems to have survived a turbulent rollout relatively unscathed, as concerns of a mass user exodus now appear overstated.
bbc.com
Bedding firm backs down on 'Swift Home' trademark after Taylor Swift appeal
Swift’s team had flagged similarities between her trademark and the company’s contested design.
bbc.com
The £10 tricks I used to make my rented room into a home
Talented tenants share decor hacks that won't cost you a fortune - or your deposit.
cnbc.com
Japan's economy avoids technical recession, but fourth-quarter rebound misses expectations
Japan's economy grew 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the previous three months, avoiding a technical recesssion
cnbc.com
Warner Bros. may reopen sale talks with Paramount following new deal terms, Bloomberg reports
Warner Bros. board members are weighing whether Paramount's sweetened bid may result in a better deal or prompt Netflix to up its offer, Bloomberg reports.
bbc.com
Andrew's time as trade envoy should be investigated, says Vince Cable
The former prince's alleged actions were "totally unacceptable", the ex-business secretary says.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on AI: safety staff departures raise worries about industry pursuing profit at all costs | Editorial
Cash-hungry Silicon Valley firms are scrambling for revenue. Regulate them now before the tech becomes too big to failHardly a month passes without an AI grandee cautioning that the technology poses an existential threat to humanity. Many of these warnings might be hazy or naive. Others may be self-interested. Calm, level-headed scrutiny is needed. Some warnings, though, are worth taking seriously.Last week, some notable ground-level AI safety researchers quit, warning that firms chasing profits are sidelining safety and pushing risky products. In the near term, this suggests a rapid “enshittification” in pursuit of short-term revenue. Without regulation, public purpose gives way to profit. Surely AI’s expanding role in government and daily life – as well as billionaire owners’ desire for profits – demand accountability. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Gender pay gap won't close for another 30 years, warns trade unions group
The average woman employee "effectively works for 47 days of the year for free," according to the Trades Union Congress.
theguardian.com
Even amid rising economic uncertainty, now is not the time to hug your job | Gene Marks
In a rapidly changing job market, it’s not necessarily good for workers to cling to their current employmentAfter all the employee protests over the past few years – the “great resignations”, the “quiet quittings”, the “bare-minimum Mondays” and “coffee badgings” – we have finally arrived at “job hugging”.Amid all the economic uncertainty and the rising costs of everything, people aren’t feeling as confident as they once were. Instead of slacking off while you hunt for something better, everyone’s scared about losing their jobs. With all the news about big corporate layoffs and the ominous and still-undefined threat of AI, it’s understandable that people are hugging their jobs. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Starmer has chance to put overseas aid and debt relief on G20 agenda | Heather Stewart
Reclaiming Labour’s internationalist heart could also stop disillusioned voters drifting towards Lib Dems and GreensIf Keir Starmer wants to win back disillusioned voters deserting his party for the Liberal Democrats or the Greens, he could do worse than rediscover Labour’s longstanding moral commitment to international development.Since cutting the overseas aid budget to fund higher defence spending – losing the excellent Anneliese Dodds in the process – Labour has had little to say on the subject, aside from the fact that 0.3% of national income is the new normal. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Trump touts climate savings but new rule set to push up US prices
Critics accuse administration of ‘cooking the books’ by claiming US would save $1.3tn from climate finding reversalThe Trump administration claims its latest move to gut climate regulations and end all greenhouse gas standards for vehicles will save Americans money. But its own analysis indicates that the new rule will push up gas prices, and that the benefits of the rollback are unlikely to outweigh the costs.On Thursday, the president and his environmental secretary, Lee Zeldin, announced the finalized repeal of the endangerment finding, a legal determination which underpins virtually all federal climate regulations. He claimed the rollback would save the US $1.3tn by 2055. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Weight-loss race: how switch from injections to pills is expanding big pharma’s hopes
Tablets could make treatment more mainstream, with sector predicted to be worth $200bn by end of the decade“I just felt slow: I want to be able to do anything my kids want to do and not have weight be a factor. Even a ride or a water park – things have weight limits,” says Melody Ewert, 44, from Minnesota.Ewert has just switched from Eli Lilly’s Zepbound weekly injection to Novo Nordisk’s new daily Wegovy pill. Analysts believe the arrival of easy-to-take tablets could push weight-loss treatments further into the mainstream in a year that has been described as “pivotal” for the booming anti-obesity market. The new pills, like the jabs, mimic the gut hormone GLP-1 that regulates appetite. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Shattered dreams: Why the battle for Sunderland’s glass centre has turned into a political flashpoint
Custodian University of Sunderland says renovation costs of £45m are too high and building must be pulled down. Not without a fight, say locals, who believe they’re being taken for foolsThe “little pieces of Sunderland” produced by the city’s glassmaking factory for more than a century can be traced back to an even older story that began in the seventh century, when English glassmaking began at a monastery beside the River Wear, run by abbott and later saint Benedict Biscop.In 2007, the Pyrex factory that opened more than 100 years earlier and made glass that found its way into millions of homes closed down, with production moved to France. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Brushing fraud: Britons told to beware of mystery parcels as new scam soars
Fraudsters use stolen personal details to send out products, then post a fake verified and positive online reviewA package arrives but you can’t remember ordering anything.When you open it, you find some cheap, flimsy jewellery. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It makes no sense’: the battle over plans for a windfarm by the Yorkshire Dales
The fight for Hope Moor is set to be repeated across the UK as the government aims to hit its renewable energy targetsInstead of a slingshot, the Davids are brandishing a sculpture and a coffee table book. Their Goliaths are a Norwegian energy company and a UK energy secretary with renewable targets to meet.A fierce battle has begun over one of England’s tallest windfarms, proposed for deep peat moorland overlooking the Yorkshire Dales national park, in what residents say will mark the irrevocable industrialisation of their rural landscape. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Could Manchester be a model for the UK to kickstart growth?
With an annual growth rate of 3.1%, Manchester's economy has performed twice as well as that of the UK as a whole.
theguardian.com
Record 1,000 UK taxpayers under 30 earned more than £1m last year
HMRC figures show 11% rise in young million-pound earners, with influencers and tech pay cited as keyTheir generation is often derided for being work-shy, self-centred and overly sensitive. But when it comes to making money, people under 30 are proving they are something else entirely: successful.A record 1,000 taxpayers under 30 earned more than £1m last year, an 11% increase on the year before, HMRC records show. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Craft beer maker Brewdog put up for sale
Consultants Alix Partners have been brought in to oversee the sales process which could lead to the businesses being broken up.
theguardian.com
UK migration could be negative this year – how will that hit the economy?
Universities, builders and health trusts are feeling the squeeze, as thinktank says effect of zero net migration could be similar to Brexit‘It’s been life-changing’: young Britons on why they left the UKWhen Greenwich and Kent universities said this month they would merge to save money, the heart of their financial difficulties could be found in the UK government’s crackdown on immigration.Tough restrictions on foreign students have sent the number of university applications from abroad plummeting, cutting lucrative tuition fees and leaving all universities facing the same squeeze. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Andrew facing claim he shared Treasury document with banking contact
Reports suggest the former prince shared a Treasury document when he was serving as trade envoy.
bbc.com
Amazon's Ring ends deal with surveillance firm after backlash
A Super Bowl advert had sparked new scrutiny of the smart doorbell company's privacy practices.
bbc.com
Head of Dubai-based ports giant quits after Epstein links revealed
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem’s exit comes after files showed he appears to have exchanged hundreds of emails with Epstein.
bbc.com
Why you should consider switching bank accounts
Martin Lewis explains why now might be a good time to think about changing your bank account.
theguardian.com
Will the Epstein files tarnish the reputation of Jamie Dimon, America’s banker?
The final stretch of the JP Morgan Chase chief’s career is a bumpy one, as Trump himself demands prosecutors investigate Epstein’s ties to Dimon’s bank Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘A great wee place’: the small Scottish factory crafting Olympic curling stones
All stones in Cortina are made from granite found on tiny island in Firth of Clyde and crafted in East Ayrshire“It takes 60m years and about six hours to make a curling stone,” shouts Ricky English above the whine of the lathes. The operations manager at Kays Scotland is surrounded by wheels of ancient granite in varying states of refinement.It is a small business with a big responsibility: the only factory in the world to supply the Winter Olympics with curling stones. Competitors don’t travel with their own stones, which weigh about 18kg each, and with 16 required for a game. Instead, this year, 132 stones were crafted in the East Ayrshire town of Mauchline and shipped to northern Italy. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Gold thief flees scene of the crime on donkey in central Turkey – video
A suspect who broke into a jewellery store using a forklift, allegedly stole 150 grams of gold, and fled the scene on a donkey was arrested in Kayseri, central Turkey. Police teams from the provincial police department identified the suspect after reviewing security camera footage following the incident. Continue reading...
bbc.com
The US economy is growing - so where are all the jobs?
As hiring rates and job openings drop, some worry a tough job market could be here to stay.
bbc.com
Get a grip: Robotics firms struggle to develop hands
Developing a durable and affordable hand is one of the biggest challenges in robotics.
theguardian.com
Ben Jennings on Jim Ratcliffe’s ‘colonisation’ comments – cartoon
Discover and buy more of Ben’s cartoons hereOrder your own print of this cartoon from the Guardian Print Shop Continue reading...
bbc.com
Thousands queue as beauty store arrives on island of Ireland
Almost 2,000 people joined the queue for the opening of a new store in Belfast this morning.
theguardian.com
Ratcliffe backlash: outrage over Manchester United boss comments | The Latest
The Monaco-based billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has said he is sorry that his ‘choice of language has offended some people’, after growing outrage over his comments that the UK was being ‘colonised by immigrants’.The Manchester United co-owner has faced a mounting backlash since making the remarks, which have been labelled hypocritical and reminiscent of ‘far-right narratives’.Lucy Hough speaks to the sports writer and columnist Jonathan Liew. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Who is billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and how did he make his money?
The industrialist and Manchester United co-owner has apologised over comments he made about immigration.
bbc.co.uk
The Bottom Line
Why do private landlords attract so much criticism – and how fair is it?
theguardian.com
‘Another way to gamble money’: booming prediction markets prompt confusion and concern
Polymarket and Kalshi are less regulated than betting sites, but users can win or lose large sums on the platformsYadin Eldar, 21, has been betting on prediction markets since 2019. His friends think he’s “crazy”, he said. But the craze surrounding these platforms is rapidly gathering steam.Users can bet on virtually anything, from the outcome of Sunday’s Super Bowl to whether the US will invade Greenland, every second of every day. Continue reading...
bbc.com
The Dutch love four-day working weeks, but are they sustainable?
The Netherlands has the lowest working hours in Europe, but some say it is harming its economy.
bbc.com
How £50m 'fish disco' could save farmland
Innovative tech scares fish away from nuclear cooling pipes.
bbc.com
Why food fraud persists, even with improving tech
Even with sophisticated technology it is still difficult to detect fake foods.
bbc.com
Plane makers chase Asia's super-rich with luxe new private jets
Parts of the aviation industry are shifting towards wealthy customers and selling a more luxurious type of international travel.
bbc.com
Kids can be the harshest critics…
The candidates test their story on a group of kids.
bbc.com
Should you overpay your mortgage or save?
Martin Lewis explains.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
bbc.com
Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?
Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.
bbc.com
Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?
Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"
bbc.com
The curious case of why Poundland is struggling during a cost-of-living crisis
Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?
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